Automatic feeding device



April 12, 1927:.

E. J. i 'GsBuRY ET AL AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 5 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 12, 1927.

E. J. KINGSBURY ET AL AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed April :3, 1923 5 Sh eets-She et 2 A ril '12, 1927,

E. J. KINGSBURY' ET A;

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE F'iled Aprii s, 1925' s Sheets-Sheet 4 J v a "g gmmmk 4 1,624,872 .Apnl 1927' E. J. KINGSBURY ET AL AUTOMATI C FEEDING DEVI CE Filed April 5 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED. STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

'E WARD J. KINGSBURY AND HARRY r. KrNGsBuRY, or Kenna, new HAMPSHIRE.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed April 3,

Our invention relates to new and useful improvementsin automatic feeding devices. The object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeding device for feeding 5 rivets, bolts, nipples, or any Cylindrical member having heads or flanges or projections, from a hopper and deliver them one at a time to a machine to be operated upon, said machine having means for automati-- cally stopping the feed from the hopper when a predetermined number of cylindrical members are alined in the delivery chute, thus preventing jamming in the chute, as

-well as automatically starting the feed of 3 the members from the hopper to the chute when less than the predetermined number of members are in the chute;

Another object of the invention is to provide'an automatic feeding device in which means provided for insuring that the members are fed to the chute with their proper endaupward and pass to the machine to operate upon'them in their proper position.

provide an automatic feeding device of this character especiall designed to feed nipplesto a cross rilling machine and in which it is impossible for ,a nipple to pass 0 from the machine-upside down and in which there is no possible chance of the nipples jamming'in thechute.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a feeder of this character which is connected to themachine in which the-cylindrical members are to be operated upon, and so arranged that a member is fed from the chute at each operation of the same, thus providing a simple and effective feed having certain details of structure and combination of partshereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved feeding device connected to a cross drilling machinefor feeding nipples there- Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeding device, partly in section; Fig. 3.is a transverse vertical'sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a-transverse sectional view of the chute taken on the line 4-.4 of Fig. 2; Fig. '5 is a longitudinahvertical sectional View of the lower or'discharge end of the chute-showing t 'o nipples therein;

A further object of the invention is to,

1923. Serial No. 629,718.

showlng means for feeding headed mem here, such as rivets, bolts or screws, to the chute, so as to insure that they are fed to the chute in their proper position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation, similar to Fig. 6, showing the rivets or-headed member being discharged into the chute;

Fig. 8 is an end View ofFig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the ase or support of a cross drilling machine which has a reciprocating drill 2, and the drilling fixture-3 mounted thereon for holding the rivets, nipples, bolts or the like while they are being cross-drilled, which is the subject-matter of a separate applica tion, but is shown herein in order to have'an operative structure as the feeding device is operated thereby.

' The base 1 has attached to its outer end an inwardly extending housing 4, and has supported at its upper end the hopper 5,

having its bottom 6 inclined, as shown in Fig.2 of the drawings. The saidhopper.

is provided with a vertical end wall 7, having a discharge opening 8 some distance above its bottom, as will be later described.

This bottom 6, adjacent the Vertical end wall 7, is provided with an opening 9, through which extends the ejector 10. The upper end of the ejector is inclined in the same plane as the bottom 6 of the hopper. 5, and when the ejector is in its lowermost position it is slightly below the bottom of the hopper. The ejector is of box-like form, moving up and down in the housing 4, and guided therein by guides 12, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The side wall 7 of the hopper carries an apron 13 below the opening 8, for allowing the rivets,

nipples or the like to roll outwardly as they are raised by the ejcctorand pass over the apron to the screen 14, which is of slatted form to insure that the members will pass downwardly in a longitudinal position and enter the chute 15 in proper position to prevent crowding, etc. I

Thebottom 6 of the hopper .5 is cut away. as indicated at 16. and has arranged therein a vibrating plate 17, pivoted at 18 at one end to the hopper and the lower end rests on the cross bar 19 in the housing 4. Connected to the vibrating plate 17 is av spring 20,

which is of curved form and extends into the -the hopper to the apron, as heretofore dehousing 4 in the path of a lug 21, carried by the ejector 10, so that the plate 17 is vibrated or rocked on each upward movement of the ejector to cause the bolts, rivets, nipples, or the like to beYfed down the bottom of the hopper to the ejector in their proper position and parallel, or approximately parallel, with the wall 7 of the hopper 5.

Thebase 1 of the drilling machine has a driven shaft mounted thereon and adapted to impart a reciprocating motio the rod 22 which is pivotally conn cted to the weighted bell-crank lever 23 at 24, and is pivotally connected at 25 to the depending rigid arm '26 carried by the lower face of the base 1. Pivotally connected at 27 to the outer end of the bell-crank lever is a flexible rod 28, extending upwardly within the housing and has a notched plate 29 rigidtherewvith and into which extends a wire spondingly shaped lug 30 carried by the ejector, so that the ejector is raised on each rocking movement of the bell-crank lever 23 and discharges the nipples, bolts or the like from scribed. Should the ejector become jammed for any reason whatever,'the belt 22 driving the pulley 23 would slip on the pulley, and thus the reciprocating rod 22 would stop and, therefore, prevent the breaking of any of the connecting parts of theejector. v

The plate 29 is held in engagement with the lug 30 by he inwardly turned end 31 of the feeler ar 32 which interlocks with the hooked end 33 of the rod 28. This feeler arm 32 is pivoted to the housing 4, at 34, and extends downwardly along one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At the lower end of the feeler arm is arranged a curved plate 35 which extendsdown into the chute 15, below the upper edge thereof, or below the upper ends of the 'nipples therein. By this structure it will be seen that the feeler arm 32, by reason of the ends'31 and hook 33, is rocked on its pivot during each reciprocation of the ejector, so that, when the chute 15 is filled with nipples or the like to a point below the plate -35 and the feeler arm is preventedfrom rocking down, the end 31 will cause the hook 33 to move outwardly, withdrawing the plate 29 from engagement with the 'lug 30, and thus disconnecting the ejector 10 from the rod, and allowing it to remain in the position shown in Fig. 2, but yet allowing the rod to reciprocate and thus stop the discharge of nipples from the hopper 5. The feeler arm will not return to its normalposition until the nipple below the plate 35 has moved down and the weight of the feeler arm, through the hooked end 31 and hook 33, forces the rod over to the right (Fig. 2) causing the lug 30 to enter the-notch in theplate 29 and again couple the rod 29 to the ejector and it will again discharge the nipples from the hopper until they reach a point in the chute 15 below the plate 35 of the feeler arm, when the ejector will again .be

disconnected from the rod 28'. Therefore, as

will be readily seen, the ejector is intermittently operated and the feed ofv the nipples from the chute is not controlled by the rate at which the bell-crank lever 23 is oscillated, but is determined by the discharge of the nipples from the chute 15, so that there can be no jamming of the nipples in the chute as the feed isnot positive.

The chute 15 is of the form shown in Fig. 4 of the drawin 's, with a'iectangular trough like portion 36, having flared upper ends 37 and 38, which are for the purpose ofin suring that thenipples will enter the porplc is not wholly vsupported by. the flange in the cut-out portion, but its lower ends rest upon the bottom 43. The lower end of the chute is provided with a discharge opening 43, which is above the holding means '44 of the drilling fixture.

The drilling fixture is operated by the rod 45, which is timed with the drill, and connected to this fixture and also timed there with is a rod 46, having its upper end pivotally connected to the arm 47, and by means of openings 48 this connection is adjustable. The upper end of the arm 47 is rigidly carried by the shaft v49, mounted in the ears 50 and carriedby the sides of the chute 15. This shaft 49 carries a downwardly extending arm 51, rigid with the shaft, and has its lower end turned downwardly, as indicated at 52, and of-a'shape and size toenter the bore of the nipples 42, so that they may pass from the discharge opening 43'. The nipples in their downward movement are slightly inclined out' of a'line at right angles to the bottom of the chute and when they reach the end of 43, but as the drill fixture feeds another nipple to thedrill, the end 52 enters the next to the last nipple in the chute -straightennippleto straighten and drop through the opening 43. When the rod or hooked end 52 of the-arm 51 is raised out of the bore of the nipple it slides down and being tilted ing up in the chute-and causing the lastg n 1 these figures the same reference numerals are applied to like parts, as shown in Figs.

1 to 5, and which parts are exactly the same and need no further description. This member. as shown, is pivoted at54 to the housing 4, and is rocked in its pivbt by a curved rod 56', pivoted at 55 to the member 53, and its lower end is pivoted at 56 to the bell-crank lever 23. The member 53 is of trough-like form, curved in cross section, ind-its bottom is provided with a slot 57 to allow the ends of the headed members 58 to pass therethrough and said members are supported by the heads so that they will enter the chute 59 in proper position, as shown in Fig. 9. The rocking of the member 53 causes the members to always assume the position shown in Fig. 7.

This chute 59 is constructed differently from the chute 15, and has flat edges 60 and 61 on each side of the trough to support the heads of the rivets, bolts or the like, and allows them to slide down and be discharged from the lower end in any desired manner.

In this form, the feeler 32 is operated in the same manner and stops the ejector from feeding the rivets, bolts or the like from the hopper, but allows the rivets, bolts, etc., in the member 53 to continue to pass to the chute until they all pass therefrom. i In operation,the drilling machine is started which in turn rocks the bell-crank lever 23 and reciprocates the rod 28 which is connected to the ejector 10. The ejector 10 discharges the bolts, rivets or nipples from the opening 8 onto the apron 13, where they slide onto the screen 14 and pass into the,

chute 15, and slide down to the lower end ina-line at an angle to the bottom, as 'heretofore described. The feeler 32 is rocked by each reciprocation of the ejector, but as soon as the predetermined number of nipples accumulate in the trough and are'below the plate 35 of the feeler arm, the same is prevented from rocking and is held in the position'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The ejector rises just the same, but as soon as the ejector is lowered the hooked end 33 of the rod 28 engages, the hook 31,

and the same being held by the nipple in,

the chute against inward movement, the rod 28 will be drawn outwardly-disconnecting.

the same from the ejector and stopping the feed of the nipples from the hopper. At the same time. the arm 51, controlling the discharge of the nipples fromthe lower end of the chute 15. is being operated by the rod 46 leading from the drilling fixture, and as soon as the nipple below the plate 35 passes downwardly, which allows the lower end of the arm 32 to swing inwardly, allowing the rod 28 to again connect with the ejector and again start the same. This operation intermittently takes place as long as the drilling machine is operated.

In the forms shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the same operation takes place, but when rivetsor headed members are being worked upon it is necessary to provide a rocking chute so that they will'assume a position with their heads up before they enter the chute 59, and this is accomplished by having the chute 59 pivoted and rocked up and down by the rod 56 which ensures that the shank of the rivets will pass through the slots 57 and support the same by their heads.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, a chute below the hopper,

. an ejector in the hopper and ejecting the articles from the hopper into the chute, and a feeler in the chute and controlled by the articles therein for throwingthe ejector out of operation and automatically allowing it to resume its operation 2. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector for the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector. continuously operated means for the ejector, and a fceler operated by the articles in the chute for disconnecting the ejector from the operating means.

3. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in the hop.- per, a chute receiving the articles from the hopper, acontinuously operated means having a latchconnection with the ejector. and

a feeler operated by the articles in the chute for operating the latch for connecting and chute for releasing the .connection between the ejector and operating means.

5. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper. a chute below the hopper, an ejector in the hopper and ejecting the articles from'the hopper into the chute, and a feeler operated by the articles in the chute for throwing the ejector out of operation after a predetermined number of arti cles are in the chuteand automatically allowing it to resume operation and maintain the same number of articles in the chute.

6. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector and supporting them on end, automatic means controlled by the articles in the chute for stopping the ejector when a predetermined number "of articles are in the I chute, and means timed with the machine to operate on the articles for discharging them one ata time from the chute,

' 7. A f,eeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in the hopejector, and means timedwith the machine per, a chute recelving the articles from the ejector and supporting them on end, means for reciprocating the ejector, afeeler controlled by the articles in the chute for disconnecting the reciprocating means from the to operate on the articles for discharging them one at a time from the chute.

8. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in the hop- .per, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector; and supporting them on end, means for reciprocating) the ejector, automatic means controlled y thearticles'in'the chute for stopping the operation of the ejector,

' I and means timed with the machine to operate on the articles for discharging them one at a time from the chute and to prevent the feeding of an article in an-inverted position. 9. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper,'a n ejector in the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector and supporting them on end, means for reciprocating the ejector, automatic means operated by the articles in the chute for disconnecting the ejector from the reciprocating means, and autoinatic means for connecting the ejectorto the reciprocating means. i

10. A- feeder of the -character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in-the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector, a reciprocating rod for operating the ejector, and a pivoted feelerextending over the chute and held in a raised position by the articles in the chute for disconnecting the rod from the ejector and automatically connecting the rod to the'ejector when the arti= cles pass from under the feeler. 11. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector extending into /the bottom of the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the ejector, a recip- 'rocating rod) having a latch connection with" the ejector, a pivoted feeler extending over the chute and adapted to release the latch connection between the ejector and rod whenf position by an article 1n the held in a rai chute.

12. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector extending into the hopper, a reciprocating' rod adjacent the ejector, a latch connection-between the rod and ejector, a pivoted feeler extendlng per, a chute recer;

over the chute, and rocked b the reciprocatingrod, andmeans carrie by the feeler fordisconnectin the. rod from the ejector when the feeler 1s held against the rocking movement by engagement of the same wit an article in the chute.

13. A.feeder of thecharacter described comprising a hopper having an inclined bottom, an ejector extending through the bottom adjacent the lower end, a vibratin member in the inclined bottom and operate theejector, a latch connection between the cles from ,the ejector, a pivoted feeler having one end extending over the chute and its opposite end engaged by the rod and rocked thereby, and means carried by the lower end of the feeler for disconnecting the rod from the ejector when the upper,end is prevented from moving down in the chute by engage- 'ment with an article therein.

14. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector extending into the hopper, a chute receiving the arti-- cles from the ejector, a reciprocating rod adjacent the. ejector, and a feeler extending 'over the chute and rocked by the rod. and

adapted to connect and. disconnect the rod from the ejector.

15. A feeder 'of the character described 'bythe ejector, a reciprocating rod adjacent rod and ejector, a chute receiving the articomprising a hopper, an ejector extending into the hopper, a chute receiving the arti- "cles/from the ejector, .a reciprocating rod having alatch connection with the ejector, and a pivoted feeler having one end extending over'the chute and the opposite end engaged by the rod, and said feeler constructejector and extending over the chute, -automatic means for disconnecting the ejector from' the .reciprocating means when the feele'r'is prevented from'oscillating by enmeansfor discharging the articles one at a time from the lower end of the chute. I

17; A feeder oi- "the character described an ejector in the hopthearticle's from the ejector and supporting them on end, auto;

comprising-a hop matic means for stop ing the ejector "when a predetermined num er of articles are in the chute, a pi-voted arm timed to enga e the next to thelast article in the chute an charge" the last article therefrom.-

' 18. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector in the hopper, a chute receiving the articles from the disgagement with an article in the chute, and

ejector and supporting them on end and having a discharge ening at its lower end, automatic means or stop ing the ejector when a redetermined num er of articles are in the c ute, a pivoted rocking arm adapted to enter the bore of'the article next to the discharge opening and move the article next I thereto in a plane so that itv will fall by comprising a hopper having receiving the articles from the apron, means for reciprocating said ejector, and a'feeler extending over the chute and oscillated by the reciprocating means and adapted to disconnect the ejector when a predetermined number of articles are in the chute.

20. A feeder of the character described comprising a hopper, an ejector, in the hopper, a chute adapted to receive the articles om the ejector and formed with a vertical channel having horizontal portions at its upper end, said channel of a depth greater than the distance from the lower end of the article to the lateral projection carried. thereby, whereby the articles will slide freely down the chute.

21. A feeder of the character described comprisinga hopper, an ejector extending into the hopper and a discharge opening for the ejector, an apron below the discharge opening, a screen below the apron, an inclined chute receiving the articles in their proper position from the screen, a reciproeating rod for operating the ejector, a feeler pivoted and having one end extending over the chute and the opposite end engagedby the rod, means earned by the feeler for disconnecting the rod from the ejector when the feeler is prevented from oscillating by engagement with an article in the chute, and connecting the rod with the ejector when the article has moved away from the feeler, and a discharge rod adapted to discharge the articles one at a time from the lower end of the chute.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our Sig-Oi natures.

EDWARD J. KINGSBURY. HARRY T. KINGSBURY. 

